Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-29
OF the Grand Army In Line at
st. Louis.
A Cold, Rainy Day SOmeWh In
terferes with the Program.
Mt. McGregOr Cottage Presented
to the G. A. R. by Joseph
W. DreXel.


The postponed parade of the Grand Army
took place on Wednesday in the rain.
Ten divisions were in line. Shortly be-
fore eleven o'clock the column was formed
and large escort. The commander-in-
chief, who followed few yards behiud, WAS
wrapped in rubber coat, smiling and bow.
ing to the crowd which lined the streets. All
along the way he was greeted with applause.
His staff of hundred mounted men preced-
ed twenty carriages, moving three abreast,
in which there were governors and other hon.
ored guests.
The leading one was occupied by Mayor
Francis and General Sherman. Although
closely sheltered from the rain and sight, the
crowds on the sidewalks soon found where
the old commander was and cheer upon cheer
marked his progress down the street, while
groups of men would rush from shelter to the
| carriage door to grasp his hand.
As the column passed under the beautiful
stained glass transparency OF General Grant,
on Fourth street, all uncovered their heads
and passed in silence.
The head of the procession reached the
Grand Army arch that spans Olive street a;
Twelfth. at noon. Commander-in- chief Fair
child, Gen. Sherman, Vice President HaDni
bal Hamlin, war governors and other dist.n-
positions in The grand stand just east of the
arch.
Across the street facing the grand stand
Marshal Grier and staff sat in their saddles
while the rain increased, aud for an hour and
halt poured on the heads of the passing
soldiers.
Mlssoari's contingent was twenty-five min
utes in passing; Illinois fifteen minutes
Kansas twelve. The other States were rep
resented by posts and regiments. Along the
line of march were thousands of boys IN blue
who thought it too wet to march.
In the balcony of the grand stand were
Commander in chief Fairchild and General
Sherman, partly protected from the rain
storm They bowed to the boys as they
passed, owldeging continually the rous
ing cheers that went up from each post ss
they filed by in company front.
Here and there throughout the different
divisions marched a colord post. and their
salute was invariably the signal for applause
from the grand stand, which was several
times taken up by the crowd and prolonged
into hearty cheer. Their dripping rags re-
ceived much boisterous notice, as the squad
bearing the tattered remnants OF flags passed
| by and the Enthusiasm was unbounded
throughout the column as an occasional war
which was dangling chicken, leg of mutton,
side of bacon, a cabbage or some other rep
resentation of foraging expedition.
At l.30 o'clock the Sons of Veterans
brought up the rear ami the crowd made a
rush for the grand stand TO see and shake
hands th "Uncle Billy" The general re-
fused to respond to numerous calls for 1
speech, and finding an opportunity slipped
| into carriage in waiting and was quickly
driven away.
| The encampment opened in due form in
the entertainment hall of the exposition build
ing at $50 z. NJ. Commander in chief Gen
Fairchid presided. A committee on creden
tials was appointed. The annual address o
the commander in-chiet was then presented
1t gave the total members of the last nationa
encampment as 326, ,499: number on June 80
1887, 372, GA actual gain, 46, ,l57. Amoun
expended in charity from March, 1886, t
March. 1887, inclusive. s253, 1884, disburseC
| to IL ,607 comrades and families and o,99.
others. During the year death claimed 340t
members including John A. Logan.
A letter was received by Gen. FairchilC
from Joseph w. Drexel offering in perpetui
the cottage at Mt. McGregor in which Gran
spent his last DAYS, to the survivors OF tnos'
gallant men who saved the country, the oni.
rounding grounds be held in trust by tn
commander in chief of the Grand Army, tn,
president of the Mt. McGregor Ralroa,
Comany and another to be named by tn
donor. General Fairchild recommended tina
it be referred to the incoming commandeEin
chief with authority to accept satisfactor
arrangements: recommended the appointment
of a competent comrade to write the histor
of the organization; recommended that tn
national headquarters be located In some cen
tral point and that the sdJutsnt general b
put in charge. In the matter of pension
the commander said that the Grand Arm,
would never consent that the question o.
| pensions be classed as partisan. lie declared
that a pension of not less than SIP per mont
should be paid to all persons who serve'
three months or more in military or navs
service, honorsbly discharged, who now o
hereafter will be from mental or physica
disability, not the result OF their own vicious
habits, incspitated tor the performance o
manual labor.
In conclusion he said; ''ln fraternity
| charity. snd loyalty we stand proud Of thI
fact that there is not nor never has beer
anv bitter telling or hate for those fellow cit
| lzens who were once in arms against US, bu
now loyal and have long ago taken the olt
time places IN our hearts, never, We devout
" hope to be removed therefrom. We hsv;
not now or have we at any time since tbs
war closed had any disposition to open sgair
the bloody chssm which once unhappily di
vided this eople. We not only will not
ourselves reopen that dreadful abyss, but We
will with the loyal people of the North and
South protest against all attempts which
Others may make to do So"
| The position taken by the commsnder-in in
chief in the pension question and the allu.
sion to the South met with the most hearty
response. Comrade Turner of New York
presented obituary resolutions on Past De
partment Commander Geo. II. Patch OF
Mass.